JOHNSTOWN — Many of his former players walked onto the artificial turf at Trojan Stadium on Monday evening. Some of them hadn’t worn the blue and black Johnstown High uniform for more than 50 years.

His son and daughter-in-law traveled from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to return to the son’s childhood home on this special day.

Current Trojans players and cheerleaders joined coaches, administrators and educators on the field.

Dave Hart Sr.’s impact certainly was evident during the presentation of this year’s John P. Murtha Friend in Education Award.

Dave Hart Jr. accepted the award on behalf of his father, who died at age 83 in March 2009.

The younger Hart is executive director of athletics at the University of Alabama, home of the reigning BCS national championship football team.

“These were my childhood heroes,” Hart said, pointing to his father’s former players throughout the audience. “My brother and I went to camp (with the Trojans football team), we went to practices and we went to the Point for the big games against Windber, Altoona and New Kensington. I remember that very, very vividly after all of these years.

“When I looked at the photographs of all those (1950s) teams, I could pick out several players because they had a lasting impression on the mind of a youngster going to St. Benedict’s in those years. Those years were treasured years. I grew up in Johnstown, and I’m proud of that. I had a wonderful childhood.”

Hart, who attended with his wife, Pam, credited his father for building the foundation of a successful career. He played college basketball at Alabama and went on to serve as AD at major Division I programs such as East Carolina and Florida State before joining his alma mater.

“In athletics, you learn lessons that you never learn in the classroom. I learned more through participating in athletics about life, core values, teamwork and all the things that you people could identify with,” he said.

Many in attendance on Monday agreed that Coach Hart taught such values during his time at Johnstown as a history teacher and coach in football and track.

From 1954-62 his Trojans went 63-12-3, including an undefeated season in 1958 when Johnstown won the WPIAL title with a 3-0 victory over Clairton at Pitt Stadium. More importantly, dozens of his players went on to college, many of those playing at the Division I level.

After Johnstown, Hart Sr. had coaching stops at the University of Kentucky as an assistant and at Pitt as a head coach for three years. He served as athletic director at Louisville and Missouri before becoming commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1987-91.

Hart Jr. read cartoonist Charles Schultz’s philosophical questions designed to emphasize the true difference makers in people’s lives. The quiz asks the reader to name the five wealthiest people in the world, the last five Heisman Trophy winners and the last five Miss America winners among other categories of high-profile achievers.

Then, he asks the reader to list teachers who made a difference in his or her life, three friends who have helped him/her through difficult times, five people who have taught him/her something worthwhile, five people he/she enjoys spending time with, heroes who have inspired him/her and people who make him/her feel appreciated.

“The difference makers in people’s lives are not the ones with the credentials, the money or the awards. The difference makers are those who care,” Hart Jr. said.

Hart then paused, choking back tears, “I’m biased, but I think that (latter description) fits my dad.”

Organizers said Monday’s event raised enough money for five scholarships that will be presented to Johnstown High students through the Trojan College Access Program.

“I have been so impressed with the Trojan College Access program,” said Hart, who spent two days in Johnstown and the surrounding region. “I say this very sincerely. I’ve been in this profession for 28 years. That is probably the single most impressive effort that I have seen in this type of structured program to help student-athletes get into college. I applaud all of you.”

In turn, the crowd at the stadium applauded Dave Hart Sr.’s memory.